Brockville, ON: Rick Vaive will be joining Darryl Sittler at this year’s Gord Brown Memorial Golf Tournament on Wednesday August 17 at Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course!
The United Way Leeds & Grenville and the YMCA of Eastern Ontario are delighted to announce that Rick Vaive will also be attending the sold-out golf tournament to raise funds for people in our community.
Rick Vaive was chosen as the number five draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1979 NHL Draft after he scored 26 goals with Birmingham of the World Hockey Association. He was traded to the Maple Leafs in 1980 and became the first player in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs to score a minimum of 50 goals in a season. He recorded 54 goals in 1981–82, 51 goals in 1982–83, and 52 goals in 1983–84. Rick’s 54-goal season stood as a Toronto Maple Leafs franchise record for four decades. He served as captain of the Leafs from 1982 to 1986. After his retirement from the NHL, he was head coach of the expansion South Carolina Stingrays, winning two division titles, a conference championship, and in 1996–97 became the first ECHL coach to win both the Brabham Cup and Kelly Cup in the same season. Rick now hosts various shows on Leafs TV. He and his wife Joyce have two sons, Jeff and Justin who plays for the Cincinnati Cyclones.
“We are thrilled that Rick has agreed to be part of our tournament and help raise money for those in need in our area,” said Trish Buote, United Way executive director. “His participation shows how much he cares for people in our region and will help to make the event a success.”
United Way Leeds & Grenville and the YMCA of Eastern Ontario are collaborating on the event and all money raised will go directly into programs offered locally, ensuring that our community continues to receive support and programming provided by both charities.
“Rick Vaive brought a lot of heart to the game and he’s bringing that same spirit to our region,” said Rob Adams, CEO of the YMCA of Eastern Ontario. “He was known as being a great teammate and leader. I couldn’t be happier that Rick has chosen to give his time to help people in our area.”
The return of the golf tournament will honour the Late Gord Brown’s legacy of giving back to our great community. The tournament will attract golfers of all levels who are looking to support a worthy cause and enjoy a beautiful course.
Tickets for the tournament are sold out, however, there are opportunities for sponsorship. If you would like to discuss sponsorship, please contact Christine Radford. Contact information is below.
About United Way Leeds & Grenville
United Way Leeds & Grenville is a non-profit agency that supports 20 local partner agencies in the community. Its mission is to improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action. UWLG is dedicated to bringing people together to build vibrant and caring communities. For more information, please visit www.uwlg.org
About YMCA Eastern Ontario
The YMCA of Eastern Ontario is a charity that provides programs and services to improve health and health outcomes, develops leaders, helps build social connections and provides safe, inclusive spaces for
people of all ages. The Y is Canada’s largest provider of childcare with trademarked curricula and offers fitness and other specialized programs including Work Hard Eat Well, Karate and Total Life Care. www.eo.ymca.ca
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If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact:
Christine Radford
Director, Resource Development
United Way Leeds & Grenville
Email: christine.radford@uwlg.org
Phone: 613-342-8889
For media inquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Colleen Gareau
Director, Marketing & Communication
YMCA Eastern Ontario
Email: colleen.gareau@eo.ymca.ca
Mobile: 613-888-9298